"THUNDERSTRUCK"
BRONZE SCULPTURE
"THUNDERSTRUCK"
Bronze Sculpture
Limited Edition of 7
Dimensions: 60"L x 60"W x 84"H
Priced at $95,000
Please scroll down to see the slide show
“THUNDERSTRUCK” STORY
A moment in time on the open ocean off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska. Considered by some to be the greatest and most adventurous of the sea hunters, four Koniag Whalers—southernmost Pacific Eskimos, come upon three bull Sperm Whales, a ton a foot and not timid. Aggressive when threatened, never a “king” to trifle with, capable of using that battering-ram head most effectively on all who would be an enemy. Suddenly present, creatures of story, legends let loose on unsuspecting whales and men---Thunderbirds. This bird of circumglobal legend is known, in some places, to create thunder by beating its wings and lightning by opening its eyes. In the far north he was more capricious and used the lordly denizens of the deep, whales, dropping them into the sea to make thunder and snakes from beneath his wings spat out their venom as lightning.
“Who makes the thunder roar and the lightning blaze across the skies? Who torments the air with rushing, whistling noises? What fate has brought us to this meeting, bringing us face to face with legends of these swelling waves?
Fear is here, for us in our fragile craft, for unsuspecting whales snatched from their course by the careless wings of this storm…but oh such awe and wonder. The old ones tell true; the Thunderbirds do sport with the “sea kings” dropping them back into the waves to give the storm a voice of power.
These “kings” we do not hunt, but we must be ready to protect ourselves should one confused and enraged by the game come to batter our baidarkas…we must be ready.
I release my arm from its sleeve, set aside my paddle, heft my spear and pray that the songs I’ve sung and charms I carry can protect me from legend that comes to life.
Should we survive, oh the tales that will come from this meeting. Should we die, then, better in play with gods than in weariness with life. We hear the beat of their wings above that of our own hearts, the gasping of whales as our breathing is stilled; the thunder is loud and the lightning strikes deep and close….."
Bronze Sculpture
Limited Edition of 7
Dimensions: 60"L x 60"W x 84"H
Priced at $95,000
Please scroll down to see the slide show
“THUNDERSTRUCK” STORY
A moment in time on the open ocean off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska. Considered by some to be the greatest and most adventurous of the sea hunters, four Koniag Whalers—southernmost Pacific Eskimos, come upon three bull Sperm Whales, a ton a foot and not timid. Aggressive when threatened, never a “king” to trifle with, capable of using that battering-ram head most effectively on all who would be an enemy. Suddenly present, creatures of story, legends let loose on unsuspecting whales and men---Thunderbirds. This bird of circumglobal legend is known, in some places, to create thunder by beating its wings and lightning by opening its eyes. In the far north he was more capricious and used the lordly denizens of the deep, whales, dropping them into the sea to make thunder and snakes from beneath his wings spat out their venom as lightning.
“Who makes the thunder roar and the lightning blaze across the skies? Who torments the air with rushing, whistling noises? What fate has brought us to this meeting, bringing us face to face with legends of these swelling waves?
Fear is here, for us in our fragile craft, for unsuspecting whales snatched from their course by the careless wings of this storm…but oh such awe and wonder. The old ones tell true; the Thunderbirds do sport with the “sea kings” dropping them back into the waves to give the storm a voice of power.
These “kings” we do not hunt, but we must be ready to protect ourselves should one confused and enraged by the game come to batter our baidarkas…we must be ready.
I release my arm from its sleeve, set aside my paddle, heft my spear and pray that the songs I’ve sung and charms I carry can protect me from legend that comes to life.
Should we survive, oh the tales that will come from this meeting. Should we die, then, better in play with gods than in weariness with life. We hear the beat of their wings above that of our own hearts, the gasping of whales as our breathing is stilled; the thunder is loud and the lightning strikes deep and close….."
